Cincinnati Reds add Pierce Johnson while Arizona Diamondbacks continue searching for bullpen stability

Right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson is joining the Cincinnati Reds. This news confirms Johnson's new destination after he became a free agent at the end of the 2025 season. While Heyman's report didn't specify the contract details like length and value, this signing meets Cincinnati's requirement for dependable relief pitching.

In 2025, Johnson played for the Atlanta Braves, showing up in 65 games and achieving a 3.05 ERA with a 24.8% strikeout rate across 59 innings. The Braves decided not to pick up his $7 million club option for 2026, which means he's now on the market. Before joining Atlanta, Johnson had stints with various National League West teams like the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants, so he's well-acquainted with the competition in the division.

Diamondbacks' interest in Pierce Johnson and the context of their search

After‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ a rough 2025 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks are determined to fix their bullpen and are therefore very interested in Johnson. They need a "bridge closer" to be able to rely on the late innings while some of their best pitchers are recovering from injuries.



It all began with the very active offseason market for relievers in 2025-2026. By Christmas 2025, a number of top relievers who were expected to earn $10 million or more per year had already signed with teams in the playoffs. Johnson's decision to join the Reds removes another solid choice for Arizona, thus their hunt becomes even more desperate as they have financial ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌constraints.

Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen situation entering 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks' bullpen ended up 27th in MLB with a 4.82 ERA and had the second-highest number of blown saves in the league, totaling 29 during the 2025 season. Injuries made things even worse. A.J. Puk was sidelined after just 19 games, and Justin Martinez followed suit a few months later. Both of them had elbow surgery in June and are likely to start the 2026 season on the 60-day injured list.

With Puk and Martinez out of the picture, the Diamondbacks are missing a solid option for the ninth inning. They kept Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson for their last arbitration year, but the team is still on the lookout for a temporary closer to fill in until their best pitchers come back.

Ginkel might have been a contender, but his durability is still a worry. He faced elbow problems during the spring training of 2024 and ended up on the injured list twice in 2025 due to shoulder issues. Although he didn't need surgery, Ginkel did consult Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion.

Who’s left for the Arizona Diamondbacks?

This offseason, most elite relievers got signed up pretty fast, and by Christmas, it’s expected that most pitchers will be making $10 million or more each year from the market.

Johnson's signing makes the pool even smaller. Arizona has already traded one asset, sending Jake McCarthy to the Colorado Rockies for a pitching prospect.

Seranthony Dominguez is currently the best free-agent reliever left on the market. MLB Trade Rumors predicts he’ll land a two-year contract worth $18 million at age 30, while FanGraphs’ estimates from the crowd are around $16 million for the same duration. Other free agents to consider are Michael Kopech, Luke Jackson, Rafael Montero, and Jose Leclerc.

The trade market isn't very helpful. Dennis Santana is one of the few somewhat reliable options out there after he stepped in as the closer when the Pirates traded David Bednar to the Yankees.

Also Read: MLB trade rumours: Cody Bellinger seeks six- or seven-year contract while New York Yankees prefer shorter commitment

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